Coffee Crawl Day #7: Lineage Coffee, Hillcrest

Shop 2, Builders way centre, 3 Builders Way, Hillcrest, 3610

When my family and I arrived in Howick late two nights ago after travelling 13 hours and 880 kilometres on rural roads from Port Alfred to the Natal Midlands, we were exhausted. Stiff and tired, we huddled around a table and discussed our plans for the next day. The natural course of action soon became very clear – after the long day of driving, the only thing that was on any of our minds was getting up early the next day, and heading off to cover another 82 kilometres of road. The reasoning behind this crazy escapade may elude some non-coffee drinkers, but to the rest of us caffeine junkies, it will make perfect sense. Many books rate Lineage Coffee in Hillcrest as the best coffee shop in the country, and it would be absolutely absurd to embark on a Coffee Crawl without basking in the glory of South African barista champion Craig Charity and his band of merry coffee-makers.

Lineage Coffee is remarkably bespoke in its outlay, with a branded coffee bar taking centre stage, and a large sign above it proclaiming their menu choices and informing customers about the blend of coffee that is currently being brewed and served. The joint is made up of earthy colours and signature pieces of wooden furniture; from the racks that display their on-sale coffee paraphernalia, to the round coffee tables at which the customers sit.

You can tell Lineage Coffee takes time to invest in their employees, with the result being that they are a group of people that work well together and are dedicated both to the coffee shop and to the industry itself. Kgune, the barista that made us our cappuccinos, oozed personality and told us about his aspirations to compete in the South African Barista Championships. Fanie, the master roaster, gladly took me on a tour of the roastery on the same premises. He explained to me about the process from the time that they receive the green coffee beans, until they come out of the roaster to be cooled and used for consumption. According to him, they roast 10 kilograms of green coffee beans at a time, with a final mass of 8 kilograms due to the moisture that is drained during the roasting process. The back of the building is also home to the workshop, which is a mechanic’s heaven. Machines are disassembled, fixed, and put back together again to resume their duties of pumping out coffee.

The cappuccinos were served in burgundy cups, with an intricate heart pattern adorning the top. The crema had good elasticity, and the espresso was topped with the perfect amount of micro-foam. The coffee itself was inspired; a smooth and intense blend of 70% Ethiopia and 30% Malawi. Both coffees are grown at altitude, and the trademark fruity profile of Ethiopian coffee came through, with lots of body and a light acidity. The contrast between the milk and the espresso was also immaculate. It was so good that I even had a second cup, which is quite rare for me at one coffee shop (all I can say is that Lineage is rated the best for a reason, which becomes clear when you taste their coffee). Alongside the coffee, I also had a chocolate croissant, which was just as heavenly.

I could try to explain how impressive this shop was, in terms of its atmosphere, layout, team and coffee alike, but the truth is that my words simply cannot do it justice. But do take my word for it when I say that whether you are travelling 800 kilometres or 80 metres, do yourself a favour and experience the prowess of the best. In other words, whether you are a Joburger, a Maritzburger, or for that fact, any other kind of burger, take the trip and visit Lineage Coffee at least once in your lifetime. It is an experience that you will not regret, and never forget.